Critical Public Health, Vol. 13, No. 2, 99



?105, June 2003

Editorial
Why food policy is critical to public health
JOHN COVENEY
It has been said that anyone who is fond of sausages and legislation should not
watch either being made (Beers, 1996). Not surprisingly perhaps, the combination
of these spectacles? the making of food legislation?has been for many recent
commentators nothing short of stomach-churning. Over the past two decades the
development and implementation of food policy action (or inaction, in the eyes
of some) has received criticism rising by degrees to moral outrage. As food
scares have been followed by food scandals the extent to which the food supply
comes under scrutiny has been increasing. Most vocal have been nongovernment
organizations, consumer lobby groups, environmentalists and academics with an
interest in the food supply (Lang, 1997a). In this editorial I want to examine
the critical importance of the study of food policy for public health....